Yokhen Stories

The War of Lake Lkon

   Zelvler was the fifth Taelin, Hyaerwi was the sixth, Akwren was the seventh, and Fenzf was the eighth. Both groups headed east. Zelvler and Hyaerwi went more north, while Akwren and Fenzf went further south. The land was barren and hot. Both groups traveled many days without finding anything. The land was flat and empty. The Taelin made it all the way to the ocean. However neither wished to settle there. They both ventured south, parallel the ocean.
 
  Fenzf and Akwren were the first to come across a lake. They settled at the waters edge. They named the lake "Lkon" for hope. They build a home for themselves and started a family. It wasn't long until Zelvler and Hyaerwi came across the same lake. They met with Fenzf, Akwren, and their family.

   According to the Lo civilization's telling of the legend, the meeting was peaceful. Fenzf and Akwren were willing to share the lake with Zelvler and Hyaerwi. The former get the north half and the latter takes the south half. They both settled and lived with decent relations to each other. Generations went by with little incidents. Then, during a rather harsh season, when resources were scarce, some descendants of Zelvler went fishing too close to the descendants of Fenzf's land. They accused them of stealing from their part of the lake. And tensions rose as they were unable to come to a compromise and share resources. That's when the war broke out.

   The Haliwad civilization's version states that Fenzf and Akwren were unwilling to share the lake at the first meeting. They tried to chase the others away so they could keep it all for themselves. Zelvler and Hyaerwi settled on the other side of the lake in defiance. Unable to do anything about it, they all just lived in tolerance of each other for the time being. But tensions between the two groups were always bad. This version also speaks of a harsh season that led to low resources. Regardless, both versions agree that fighting over resources started the war.
  
   The fighting lasted many generations. They would make small boat to sneak over the water to each other in the night. They would raid each other and kill as much as possible. The fighting only stopped once Ven finally came to check up on how her children were doing. When she saw the carnage and Death, she lashed out in anger. With a mighty cry, she struck the lake with lightning. The land underneath the lake split down the middle and moved away from each other. This put more distance between the two families.
  
   The Taelin of both families cried out to Ven. Begging her to listen to their side of the story. They asked her to strike down the other and give them control of the lake. After hearing their pleas, Ven grew angrier. She cursed them for their selfishness. She struck the lake again with lightning, this time the water became undrinkable. All the fish and sea life in the lake died, making them inedible.
  
   Ven then left the Taelin to fend for themselves. Not before leaving a final command, 'if war between the two families ever broke out again, both of them would be wiped out without remorse.'

  In current day, the Lo and Haliwad people who occupy the land north and south of the now Lkon Split, believe themselves to be the descendants of those families. In fear of being wiped out, they have a treaty that forbids conflict between the two nations. They are also in constant trade with one another to share the resources of the land.